Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me: Milk Shower

Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me: Milk Shower

The pregnancy books tell you that your breasts will get engorged (HUGE) right after you give birth as your milk is coming in. It makes a flat chest look like heaven. While it's fun to look like Pamela Anderson for a second or two, what comes after is so not sexy.

When I got home from the hospital with our new bundle of love, I couldn't wait to get in my own shower, put on my new fluffy robe and enjoy my first week of motherhood. I had been cautious not to take hot showers when I was pregnant because I was convinced it would hurt the baby.

So, I jumped in the scalding hot shower and to my surprise, milk sprayed. It was like Water Works for babies. Oh, how I wished I had bottles to capture the liquid gold that escaped. I felt a little weirded out by my body, but at least I was clean. Only when I made it down the hall, did I realize I was drenched in milk, again!

I quickly learned that warm water and physical contact with the nipple stimulates the "let down" reflex. For the next 8 months, I lived with nursing pads in my bra and wore one to bed until I finally weaned my baby.

Why didn't anybody tell me that I was going to spray milk, wear nursing pads non-stop, and become a prisoner to a bra? At least I'll know what to expect next time!

Yep. That was the worst surprise. My own mother had not breast fed, so she didn't know to warn me. I had been pregnant with twins, but only one survived. So I had the milk for two, but only one kid to feed. At first, my husband was more than willing to take care of this problem for me. But then I went grocery shopping for the first time since returning from the hospital; and though I nursed my son immediately before we left the house, once I entered the freezer section of the store it was Niagra Falls! I became drenched in seconds. It was incredibly embarrassing.

5 years

Thanks for the heads up. I'm 7 weeks pregnant tomorrow. And have gone from AA to C cup size already. I finally have cleavage!

The no more cutting thing (episiotomies) is for a few reasons.
1 - it's often done prematurely by doctors in a hurry
2 - the cut is often longer/deaper than a tear would have been
3 - the body actually heals better/faster from a natural tear

The no more cutting thing (episiotomies) is for a few reasons. 1 - it's often done prematurely by doctors in a hurry2 - the cut is often longer/deaper than a tear would have been3 - the body actually heals better/faster from a natural tear

My milk didn't come in until the 4th day postpartum. I was wearing these little plastic cups to try to help my nipples poke out more or something... and all of a sudden I noticed they were full of liquid. I thought that the little sponges inside of the cups were still wet from when I'd taken a shower or something. It took me a few minutes to realize that it was *finally* my milk. I was sooo relieved. I desperately wanted to breastfeed but after 4 days of trying I thought I was going to have to do formula. Anyway, it was one of my first Mommie hurdles.

Jenn76...I'll take the big boobie in stride for now, but by the time I'm 9 mo I think the girls will strangling me....
macgirl--what's this I hear...no more cutting....they just want you to rip in half??? What's the rationale for not cutting anymore????

Jenn76...I'll take the big boobie in stride for now, but by the time I'm 9 mo I think the girls will strangling me....
macgirl--what's this I hear...no more cutting....they just want you to rip in half??? What's the rationale for not cutting anymore????

Jenn76...I'll take the big boobie in stride for now, but by the time I'm 9 mo I think the girls will strangling me....macgirl--what's this I hear...no more cutting....they just want you to rip in half??? What's the rationale for not cutting anymore????

i am so glad to read all of this. i am really into haveing a child. not anytime this year or next but after that..... i had a dream last week that i was breast feeding and it gave me the most heartwarming feeling... it makes me want a child even more. i was sorta embarrassed when i woke up. dont know why for sure but i was...???

I'm 31 weeks and started leaking a few weeks ago. It seems so early and kind of freaked me out at first. I didn't have any leaking prior to birth when I had my son 9 years ago.
I remember going to Target a few weeks after I had my first son to buy a nursing bra. My mom had my son outside of the dressing room and I could hear him fussing a bit. Then I started hearing this drip drip drip sound and assumed the roof was leaking. Only to look down and see that I was flowing out all over my shoes ;-) I had reusable/washable breastpads that worked fine for me. I had just read recently that you have to be careful with the pressure on the breast thing. Everything is so constantly changing it is annoying. I also just found out that they don't do Episiotomies any longer either. 9 years ago they scared the life out of you telling you it was necessary as if you tore you could severely damage your lady goods. Now they just want you to tear. aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh ;-)

I'm 31 weeks and started leaking a few weeks ago. It seems so early and kind of freaked me out at first. I didn't have any leaking prior to birth when I had my son 9 years ago. I remember going to Target a few weeks after I had my first son to buy a nursing bra. My mom had my son outside of the dressing room and I could hear him fussing a bit. Then I started hearing this drip drip drip sound and assumed the roof was leaking. Only to look down and see that I was flowing out all over my shoes ;-) I had reusable/washable breastpads that worked fine for me. I had just read recently that you have to be careful with the pressure on the breast thing. Everything is so constantly changing it is annoying. I also just found out that they don't do Episiotomies any longer either. 9 years ago they scared the life out of you telling you it was necessary as if you tore you could severely damage your lady goods. Now they just want you to tear. aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh ;-)

I would've paid ten times as much for breastpads. *lol* I disagree that they're a waste of money. All putting pressure on my breasts did was make the milk squirt harder. Between my two boys, I basically wore breast pads for about 6 years straight since I always leaked. The leaking after weaning has been controlled with a moulded cup bra.

wow 8 months using nursing pads, thats a long time. My mom told me to stop being a big baby,I'm sure she said it nicer at the time, she said i didn't need them. When i felt my breast like tingle,( basicly they were fill up) that i needed to put some pressure on my breast (flatten palm put pressure on the areola) it took a few times, but i got it under control, and i didn't need the pads any more. I think i used them for about a month. My mom thinks nursing pads are a waste of money. I had a lot of help though, my mom gave me the 411 on pregnancy and raising a kid. It was great, there were no surprises for me. She told me straight up, labor hurts like hell, she once told me to remember a time when I was in so much pain, then times it by 100, and that still don't compare to what labor feels like, and she was right. I love that my mom talked to me, and shared her experience with me. My Auntie was very helpful also. Ohhh, she also had me go to all her lamas classes, and I was there the entire time for my brothers birth, I was 16 then. She called it birth control, and it worked for 6 years. I will never for get it, and it let me know what i was in for. And now I have a beautiful 5 year old girl,and 9 weeks away from having my lil boy.

wow 8 months using nursing pads, thats a long time. My mom told me to stop being a big baby,I'm sure she said it nicer at the time, she said i didn't need them. When i felt my breast like tingle,( basicly they were fill up) that i needed to put some pressure on my breast (flatten palm put pressure on the areola) it took a few times, but i got it under control, and i didn't need the pads any more. I think i used them for about a month. My mom thinks nursing pads are a waste of money. I had a lot of help though, my mom gave me the 411 on pregnancy and raising a kid. It was great, there were no surprises for me. She told me straight up, labor hurts like hell, she once told me to remember a time when I was in so much pain, then times it by 100, and that still don't compare to what labor feels like, and she was right. I love that my mom talked to me, and shared her experience with me. My Auntie was very helpful also.
Ohhh, she also had me go to all her lamas classes, and I was there the entire time for my brothers birth, I was 16 then. She called it birth control, and it worked for 6 years. I will never for get it, and it let me know what i was in for.
And now I have a beautiful 5 year old girl,and 9 weeks away from having my lil boy.

ITA with greggie about the what to expect books. not really a fan.
I never felt the pain of my milk drying up because it was a natural process that goes along with the kiddo nursing less and less over time.